Thursday, November 17, 2011

Feds Pick on Washington State Pot Purveyors

The DEA boot heel came down again on medical marijuana this week, when federal agents and local police collaborated to raid several MMJ establishments across western Washington state, which has had MMJ on the books since 1998.

One man was arrested for a parole violation in the raids, which were aimed at shutting down shady enterprises that operate under the guise of medial marijuana but violate state and federal laws, including growing and selling MMJ in school zones, money laundering and the use of guns.

"We will not prosecute truly ill people or their doctors who determine that marijuana is an appropriate medical treatment," Washington U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan said in a statement. "However, state laws of compassion were never intended to protect brash criminal conduct that masquerades as medical treatment."

Agreed.

It seems to me the feds are going to continue to crack down on dispensaries and grow operations across the nation that illegally funnel cash out of the MMJ system (inevitabile) or push the boundaries of acceptable practice (also inevitable). Does Arizona really want a dispensary system or commercial grow operations that put operators at risk of federal prosecution, whether or not they are breaking the law?

I think not. I'm happy just growing my own, and I think the patients and caregivers can make sure everyone gets what they need. So, I think I am leaning closer and closer to the position that we do not need dispensaries in Arizona. Let Gov. Jan have her way. Let's just stick to the status quo.